“VERY promising.”This was how Interior and Local Government (DILG) assistant director for Western Visayas Maria Calpiza Sardua described the standing of Bacolod City in terms of local governance.Sardua was in the city on Thursday, April 21, during the regional assessment for Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).“I think we did a good job in the first round and I am looking forward to the visit of the national assessment team (in Bacolod),” she said, adding that the purpose of the activity is to highlight the accomplishments of the locality in terms of governance areas that have been established.The SGLG is an award, incentive, honor and recognition-based program for all local government units in the country that aims to strengthen the commitment of LGUs towards improving their performance in various areas of governance.The Regional Assessment Team (RAT) composed by DILG Aklan Provincial Director Carmelo Orbista, Civil Society Organization (CSO) representative Emmanuel Areño, and Jessana Carmela Tatoy, who is the Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO) V, SGLG Regional Focal Person, DILG – Western Visayas.The regional validators visited the city to conduct an initial assessment including an onsite visit, documentary review and interview with key city officials.They likewise evaluated documents, inspected the facilities, supplies and equipment at the Bacolod City Government Center, the Evacuation Center at Vista Alegre, the Annex Building, City Health Office, Bacolod City College and observed the working systems especially of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) at the old city hall and Bacolod Government Center.For his part, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our officials for bringing Bacolod to what it is today (and) we feel that we should always be partners here.”The SGLG indicators include financial administration, social protection, disaster preparedness, tourism, culture and the arts, sustainable education, health compliance and responsiveness, environmental management, youth development, peace and order, business friendliness and competitiveness.During the feedback session, Sardua explained the National SGLG assessment, which was supposed to be in June, has been moved to July of this year.Republic Act No. 11292, or the Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019, recognizes the good performance of local government units (LGUs) in transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, preparedness for challenges posed by disasters, sensitivity to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized sectors of society, implementation of health programs, investment and employment promotion, protection of constituency from threats to life and damage to property, and safeguarding the integrity of the environment.The law also encourages all LGUs to take on greater challenges, encourage outcome-based performance and to reward local governments for their effort in pursuing the general welfare of their constituency and in enforcing existing laws.In 2020, Bacolod City obtained the 2020 SGLG Award from the DILG. (MAP with PR)